Digitized  b^b&ilffi^neL.  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 
Columbia  University  Libraries 


https://archive.org/details/specimenbookofduOOdunn 


ZEA-O-LIE 


Galvanized  Iron  Cornice  IV ores. 


Specimen  ^ook 

OF 

DUNN  & WITT, 


MANUFACTURERS  OF 


'RNAMENTAL  GALVANIZED 


LOUVERS,  DORMER-WINDOWS,  FINIALS, 


Balustrading,  w indovv  Caps,  Vanes,  etc., 

ALSO, 

TIN,  IRON,  AND  SLATE  ROOFERS. 


144  West  Third-Street,  Between  Race  and  Elm, 


CINCINNATI,  OHIO. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1870,  by  Dunn  «fc  Witt,  in  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 
STROBRIDGE  k CO-,  Lithographers  and  Printers,  Cincinnati. 


REFACE. 


GALVANIZED  IRON  CORNICES, 

Dormer-Windows,  Window  and  Door  Caps,  Balustrading,  Finials, 
Gutters  and  Gutter  Linings,  Spouts,  Statues, 

Statuettes,  Architraves,  etc. 


a 

i|jN  presenting  the  following  few  specimens  of  work  done  by  us  in  gal- 
dfj  vanized  iron,  we  would  remark,  that  as  it  is  the  first  Illustrated  Cata- 

logue  of  the  sort  issued  in  the  United  States,  it  is  not  as  complete  as 
we  would  wish.  It  is  only  within  the  last  few  years  that  the  application 
of  galvanized  iron  has  been  so  extensive  as  to  require  a publication  of 
this  description,  and  in  this  place  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  give  a brief 
history  of  the  adoption  and  uses  to  which  the  article  is  now  so  largely 
applied,  and  of  the  many  changes  and  improvements  in  machinery  for  its 
preparation. 

The  first  attempt  to  protect  iron  for  practical  purposes  from  rusting,  by 
means  of  the  application  of  an  unoxidizable  metal,  was  made  by  Prof. 
John  W.  Revere,  M.  D.,  of  New  York.  On  March  17,  1829,  he  brought 
before  the  Lyceum  of  Natural  History  of  New  York,  the  results  of  ex- 
periments upon  which  he  had  been  occupied  the  two  preceding  years,  and 
exhibited  iron  spikes,  which,  after  being  driven  into  a block  of  wood,  had 
been  left  since  June  14,  1827,  in  sea  water,  also  an  iron  plate  secured  in 
wood  with  iron  nails,  which  had  been  similarly  exposed.  These  did  not 
present  the  slightest  appearance  of  corrosion.  Dr.  Revere  at  first  looked 
only  to  the  preservation  of  the  iron  fastenings  used  in  copper  sheathing, 
but  his  experiments  satisfied  him  that  the  sheathing  itself  might  be  of  iron 
sheets  protected  from  all  danger  of  rusting  by  electro-chemical  agency. 

The  name  of  galvanized  iron  is,  however,  given  to  plates  of  iron  coated 
with  zinc,  without  any  reference,  as  its  name  would  imply,  to  galvanism. 
Most  probably  it  was  applied  by  its  French  inventor  for  the  special  pur- 
pose of  misleading,  and  for  concealing  the  real  nature  of  the  manufacture. 

The  value  of  giving  a thin  coating  to  iron  of  some  easily  fusible  metal, 
much  less  liable  to  oxidization  than  itself,  had,  however,  been  long  known 


‘P'RBBsL  CB.  hi 


and  acted  upon,  as  in  the  case  of  tinned  iron,  or  tin,  as  it  is  commonly 
called,  but  this  could  not  be  applied  on  a very  large  scale,  such  as  for 
roofing,  or  for  large  iron  structures,  such  as  have  of  late  been  extensively 
erected  for  various  purposes. 

It  is  not  known  exactly  when  zinc  coating  was  first  used  in  France, 
where  it  was  invented;  but  the  first  English  patent  was  taken  out  in  1837, 
by  Mr.  H.  W.  Crawford,  who  applied  it  chiefly  to  sheets  of  corrugated 
iron,  or  sheet  iron  bent  by  a peculiar  process  into  alternate  semicircular 
elevations  and  depressions,  and  this  soon  became  extensively  employed  for 
roofing  purposes,  especially  for  railway  sheds,  which  were  then  beginning 
to  be  in  great  request. 

The  enormous  demand  that  soon  sprang  up  for  galvanized  iron,  espe- 
cially in  sheets,  attracted  considerable  attention  in  this  country,  and  led  to 
improvements  in  machinery  for  its  preparation,  and  simultaneously  it  was 
adopted  as  a desirable  substitute  for  wood  and  stone  wherever  it  could  be 
employed.  By  various  improvements  on  Crawford’s  patent,  the  effectual 
coating  of  sheets,  or  other  articles  of  iron,  was  found  to  render  it  by  far 
the  most  economical  means  for  covering  buildings,  as  it  requires  no  paint 
and  withstands  the  action  of  the  atmosphere  for  a very  considerable  length 
of  time. 

In  the  treatment  of  iron  the  greatest  nicety  is  required  as  to  its  quality. 
The  iron  to  be  coated  must  have  a uniform  surface,  and  be  of  the  finest 
quality,  and  possessed  of  combinations  allowing  for  all  degrees  of  contrac- 
tion and  expansion.  In  this  respect  the  sheets  thus  prepared  stand  unri- 
valed, as  they  naturally  possess  the  durability  of  the  zinc  and  the  strength 
of  the  iron  with  the  qualities  that  inure  them  to  the  most  trying  changes 
of  temperature.  It  has  been  found  that  where  copper,  zinc,  and  lead  will 
soon  give  out,  the  sheets  thus  prepared  will  stand  unharmed. 

There  are,  besides,  other  qualities  possessed  by  this  material  which 
render  it  far  preferable  to  wood  or  stone  for  many  purposes  to  which  the 
former  is  applied,  among  which  its  lightness  and  elasticity,  its  fire-proof 
qualities,  and  its  great  durability  may  be  mentioned.  For  cornices  it  has 
almost  entirely  superseded  both  wood  and  stone,  the  immense  weight  of 
stone  necessary  to  give  the  required  projection  being  one  of  the  principal 
objections  to  its  use,  while  the  danger  to  wood  from  fire,  besides  its  great 
cost,  precludes  its  employment  as  a cheap,  durable,  and  substantial  mate- 
rial. Besides,  the  absorption  of  moisture  to  which  our  freestone  is  liable 
causes  it  to  scale  after  damp  and  frosty  weather,  while  in  case  of  fire  it 
is  liable  to  split  and  fly  to  pieces.  Its  cost,  moreover,  is  about  four  times 
as  much  as  that  of  galvanized  iron,  while  the  latter  will  look  better  and 
wear  out  any  quality  of  stone  that  may  be  employed. 

In  all  of  the  better  class  of  both  private  and  public  buildings,  including 


IV  TftJSFA  CJS. 


many  of  the  finest  churches  erected  within  the  last  ten  years,  galvanized 
iron  has  been  employed  not  only  in  cornices,  but  in  all  ornamental  work 
exposed  to  the  action  of  the  atmosphere.  It  is  now  generally  used  in  cor- 
nices, dormer-windows,  window  and  door  caps,  balustrading,  finials,  gutters, 
and  gutter  linings,  spouts,  statuettes,  urns,  architraves,  etc. 

The  accompanying  illustrations  show  a few  specimens  of  the  work  lately 
done  in  our  manufactory.  The  styles  are  innumerable,  there  being  as  great 
a variety  in  the  work  as  taste  or  fanc}r  may  dictate.  Patterns  can  be 
made  from  any  design  or  plan  furnished  by  any  competent  architect. 

It  is  over  twenty  years  ago  since  we  established  the  business  in  this 
city  ; at  that  time  it  was  entirely  unknown  throughout  the  Western  States, 
but  was  coming  extensively  into  use  in  New  York  and  other  Eastern 
States.  Being  the  pioneers  in  the  business,  we  have  kept  pace  with  its. 
growth  and  advancement.  Our  new  establishment — a correct  view  of 
which  will  be  found  on  the  front  page — the  entire  front  of  which  is  of  gal- 
vanized iron,  backed  up  with  brick,  and  which,  when  painted  and  sanded, 
can  not  be  distinguished  from  freestone,  will  give  the  reader  an  idea  of 
the  perfection  to  which  this  business  has  been  brought. 

We  have  improved  our  machinery  to  an  extent  that  affords  us  facil- 
ities such  as  no  other  establishment  can  claim.  We  have  engaged  daily 
about  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  skilled  workmen,  who  have  mostly  been 
taught  under  our  own  instruction.  Our  work  is  now  to  be  found  in  Balti- 
more, Pittsburg,  Cleveland,  St.  Louis,  Memphis,  Nashville,  and  the  lead- 
ing cities  of  the  West  and  South-West.  We  believe  that  the  adoption  of 
galvanized  iron  for  cornices  alone  has  saved  millions  of  dollars’  worth  of 
property  in  the  State  of  Ohio,  by  the  protection  afforded  from  fire. 
Among  many  other  large  buildings  and  public  institutions  which  we  have 
furnished  with  cornices,  we  might  mention  Longview  Asylum,  at  Carthage, 
O.,  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  Asylum,  at  Columbus,  O.,  the  Work-House,  at 
Cincinnati,  O.,  the  Lunatic  Asylum,  at  Athens,  O.,  the  Western  Lunatic 
Asylum,  at  Hopkinsville,  Ky.,  the  Neil  House,  United  States  Arsenal, 
Union  Block  and  Hayden’s  Building,  Columbus,  O.,  Galt  House,  Louisville, 
Ky.,  Lagonda  Hotel,  Springfield,  O.,  National  Fire  Insurance  Company’s 
Building,  Baltimore,  Md.,  Opera-Houses  at  Alliance,  O.,  and  Keokuk, 
Iowa,  St.  Vincent’s  Orphan  Asylum,  Vincennes,  Ind.,  Academy  of  Music, 
Akron,  0.,  Miami  University,  Oxford,  0.,  Pike’s  Opera-House,  Wesleyan 
Female  College,  Carlisle  House,  Enterprise  Insurance  Building,  Masonic 
Temple,  Lane  Seminary,  and  nearly  all  the  magnificent  business  blocks, 
private  residences,  school-houses,  and  churches  in  this  and  neighboring 
cities. 

Many  of  the  cornices  we  have  erected  have  been  in  use  from  seventeen 
to  nineteen  years,  and  are  considered  as  sound  to-day  as  when  first  put  up. 


T'JiJSFA  CE.  v 


We  are  at  all  times  prepared  to  execute  promptly  all  orders  intrusted 
to  us.  Our  facilities  enable  us  to  turn  out  work  with  great  rapidity. 
Where  material  and  labor  are  high,  we  can  erect  a whole  front  for  a build- 
ing of  any  size,  and  have  it  shipped  safely  in  sections  to  any  part  of  the 
country.  Such  fronts,  backed  up  with  brick,  are  much  more  durable  than 
stone,  and  the  tilling  can  be  done  quicker  and  at  less  expense  ; at  the  same 
time  the  important  desideratum  of  greater  strength  is  secured,  besides  ren- 
dering the  work  completely  tire-proof. 

Parties  desiring  any  thing  contained  in  this  volume,  should  send  the 
number  of  the  figure  as  it  appears,  and  the  probable  quantity  necessary. 
These  designs,  or  any  others,  we  are  prepared  to  make  to  order  of  any 
size  required. 

Hoofs  covered  with  tin,  iron,  copper,  or  slate  at  the  shortest  notice. 

All  further  information  can  be  procured,  and  specimens  of  work  seen 
at  our  establishment.  Letters  addressed  to  us  will  meet  with  prompt 
attention. 

DUNN  & WITT, 

Galvanized  Iron  Cornice  Manufacturers,  and  Tin,  Iron,  and  Slate  Roofers, 

144  West  Third-Street,  Cincinnati,  O. 


INDEX. 


Figure  1 — Represents  our  own  Building,  No.  Ill  West  Third-Street,  the  entire 
front  of  which,  above  the  Cast-Iron  Columns  on  the  ground-floor,  is 
made  of  Galvanized  Iron,  backed  up  with  brick. 

No.  2 — Is  the  Jewish  Temple,  corner  of  Plum  and  Eighth  Streets,  Cincinnati.  The 
Cornices,  Parapets,  Balustrading,  Finials,  etc.,  are  all  Galvanized  Iron. 

No.  3 — Is  a Section  of  Galvanized  Iron  Cornice  on  Kuhn,  Stern  & Co.’s  Building, 
corner  of  Vine  and  Third  Streets. 

No.  4 — Is  a Section  of  Henry  Brachman’s  Building,  149  West  Third-Street. 
Cornice  of  Galvanized  Iron. 

No.  5 — Cornice  on  Fireman’s  Insurance  Co.  Building,  corner  Main  and  Front  Streets. 

No.  6 — Front  of  Mohr,  Solomon  & Mohr’s  Building,  Third-Street  near  Elm.  Cor- 
nice of  Galvanized  Iron. 

No.  7 — Represents  a Section  of  the  residence  of  E.  G.  Hayes,  Esq.,  Lawrenceburg, 
Ind.  The  Cornices,  Dormers,  Window  Hoods,  Balustrading,  Ridge 
Moldings,  Chimney  Caps,  Window  and  Door  Caps,  are  of  Galvanized 
Iron. 

No.  8 — Is  a Section  of  the  Mansard  Roof  of  the  residence  of  Geo.  Davis,  Esq., 
Portsmouth,  0.,  showing  Main  and  Mansard  Cornice,  with  Corbels, 
Dormers,  Finials,  etc.,  of  Galvanized  Iron,  and  Fancy  Slate  Roof. 

No.  9 — Represents  a Section  of  Mansard  Roof,  with  Balustrading,  Dormers,  Window 
Caps,  and  Cornices  of  Galvanized  Iron. 

On  Pages  8 to  29,  inclusive,  will  be  found  a most  complete  Set  of  Designs  for 
Cornices.  They  are  for  the  most  part  new,  and  comprise  a variety  from 
which  the  most  fastidious  can  select. 

On  Page  30  are  designs  for  Galvanized  Iron  Gutters. 

Pages  31  and  32,  Designs  for  Dormer-Windows. 

Pages  33  to  43,  inclusive,  contain  the  Newest  and  most  Elegant  Designs  for  Window 
and  Door  Caps  of  Galvanized  Iron. 

Page  44  contains  Front  and  Side  Views  of  Galvanized  Iron  Balcony. 

Page  45,  Different  Styles  of  Balustrading  of  Galvanized  Iron. 

Page  46,  Balustrading  and  Chimneys  of  Galvanized  Iron. 

Pages  47  and  48  consist  of  Designs  for  Chimneys. 

Page  49  contains  Design  for  Chimneys  and  for  Finial. 

Pages  50,  51,  and  52,  Finials  of  Various  Patterns. 

Pages  53  and  54,  Designs  for  Turrets  constructed  entirely  of  Galvanized  Iron.  One 
of  these  surmounts  the  Dexter  Chapel,  Spring  Grove  Cemetery,  and  is 
generally  remarked  for  its  beauty  and  elegance  of  finish. 

Pages  55  and  56  contain  Designs  of  Grotesque  Heads,  Busts,  Ornamental  Vase, 
Balustrade. 

Pages  57,  58,  and  59,  Various  Designs  for  Vanes,  surmounted  by  Chicken  Cock, 
Eagle,  Horse  in  Motion,  Horse  with  Jockey,  and  Bullock. 

Page  60  contains  a Colossal  Figure  representing  “ Industry,”  put  up  on  Resor’s 
building,  corner  of  Race  and  Front  Streets,  Cincinnati. 

Page  61  contains  Different  Styles  of  Slate  Roofing. 


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